Air purifier



.1. F. HEUBERGER 2,145,049

AIR PUR TFTER Jan. 24, 1939.

Filed July 2, 1936 2 SheetsSheet 1 00 O O OOOQOOOOOOODOOOOODOOOO 0C 0 00 Q0 DO 090 Jan. 24, 1939. J F HEUBERGER AIR PURIFIER Filed July 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yvENToR.

AATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 AIR- PURIFIER.

Josef Friedrich Heuberger, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application July 2, 1936, Serial No. 88,507 In Sweden July 5, 1935 5 Claims. (Cl. 183-49) The present invention relates to air purifiers and more particularly to an improved air purifier adapted to be used in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner of known design. Such a device 5 may be used advantageously to remove poisonous or other obnoxious gases from the air of a room,

or to supply purified air to a room.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an air filter or purifier which may be substituted for the dust bag of a vacuum cleaner, the fan of the cleaner being utilized to force the air to be purified through the filter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved filtering device.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, which forma part of the specification, and of which:

Fig. l is a view, chiefly in cross-section of one preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig.

1 but showing another embodiment;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of filtering device;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a filtering device;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of certain elements shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an additional embodiment of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, reference character l designates generally a vacuum cleaner of known design including a casing within which is mounted a motor |2 for driving a fan I3. An end cap l4 forms part of the easing and is provided with a threaded exhaust opening I adapted to receive a coupling member l6. Runners ll are provided for supporting the casing H in a substantially horizontal position.

Casing II is provided with a space between the fan l3 and the left hand end, as viewed in As shown, unit 2| includes an outer perforated wall 22 preferably integral with a solid end wall 23 and perforated inner wall 24 which may be 55 integral with a solid end wall 25 formed with a central opening 26 in alignment with the space enclosed within wall 24. A mass of suitable filtering material 21 is disposed within the annular space defined by walls 22, 23, 24 and 25.

- Outer wall 22 is formed with a flange 28 which, 5 together with outer edge of end wall 25, is received within a rubber packing ring 29. The unit 2| is secured in place within casing H] by clamping the packing ring 29 between an end cover 30 and a ring 3| forming the end of casing 10. 10 Member 30 may be secured to the casing proper in any suitable manner such as by spring clips 32. Member 30 is formed with a threaded inlet opening 33 into which coupling member l6 may be screwed, if desired.

As shown in Fig. 1, a hose 34 is secured to coupling I6 in outlet opening I5. The vacuum cleaner l0 may be located in a room or com partment in which there is present obnoxious or poisonous gases, for instance, resulting from some 20 chemical process which is being carried on in the room, while hose I3 may lead to a compartment which it is desired to supply with purified air. Upon rotation of fan l3 by motor I2, air and poisonous gases are drawn in through opening 33 25 and pass through perforated wall 24 into contact with the filtering material 21. Here the poisonous or obnoxious gases are absorbed and the purified air is discharged from the unit 2| through the perforated wall 22. From here the airpasses 30 through the fan and through the hose 34 to the compartment to which this hose leads.

If it is desired to provide a larger filtering mass than is possible in a single unit 2| placed within the casing II, a similar unit 2 la may be located 5 outside the vacuum cleaner proper as is shown in Fig. 2. Unit 2la is similar to unit 2|, except that it is not necessary to provide it with an end wall 25, inasmuch as the end wall 25 of unit 2| may serve as a common wall for the two units. 40 Cover member30 of Fig. 1 is replaced by an annular ring 40 and the packing ring 29 encloses the flanges 28 on both the units 2| and 2 la. The packing ring is clamped inplace between ring 3| on casing II and the annular ring 40.

In the operation of this device, air and poisonous gas is drawn in through the outer perforated wall 22a of the unit 2 la, passes through the filtering mass 21a therein, and through the inner perforated wall 24ato the space within this wall.

From here the air and any poisonous gases not absorbed by the filter mass 21a, pass through the perforated wall .24 to the filtering mass 21 of filter unit 2|, and out through the perforated wall 22 in a purifiedstate. Consequently, the a'ir'to be purified has passed through two filter units in series.

If it is desired to place the device shown in Fig. 1 within the room which is to be supplied with purified air, this may be done by connecting the hose 34 and coupling I6 to the inlet opening 33, and leading the hose to the compartment containing the air to be purified.

If it is desired to connect'the hose 34 to the inlet of the device shown in Fig. 2, this may be done by providing a case 42 for surrounding the unit Zla which extends outside the casing H. Case 42 is provided with a threaded inlet opening 43 adapted. to receive the hose, while the other end of the case is formed with a flange 44 which 'is received within the packing ring 29, and is clamped in place by the annular ring 40.

The operation of this device is the same as that shown in Fig. 2, except that all of the air must pass through hose 34 to within case 42, from where it passes through the filtering units Ma and 2| in the manner above described.

In Fig. 4 there are shown filtering units 45 and 45a, which are similar to those shown in Fig. 3 except that each unit is divided into two sections by means of intermediate perforated wall or screen 46. Thus, the filter mass 41a. of unit 45a may be of one material while the mass 48a may be of another. The same is true with respect to unit 45, except that it is preferable to reverse the positions of the filter masses so that mass 48 is within the mass 41. Thus, when the air and poisonous gases pass through the units in the manner described in Fig. 3, they first contact filter mass 48a, then mass 41a, then mass 48, which may be of the same material as mass 48a, and finally mass 47 which may be of the same material as mass 41a.

Instead of arranging the filter masses of different materials concentrically as shown in Fig. 4, they may be arranged longitudinally as shown in Fig. 5. As here shown, the filtering unit 50 includes a solid outer wall 5| divided into a plurality of filter cells by means of members 52 and 53. Member 52 includes an annular solid wall 54 to which are secured inner and outer perforated walls 55 and 56, respectively. The outer diameter of wall 52 is somewhat greater than the diameter of perforated wall 56. Member 53 is merely a solid disc having a diameter equal to that of perforated wall 56.

Members 52 and 53 are assembled as shown in Fig. 4, within container 5| with members 52 arranged in pairs back to back with end walls 54 in contact and with members 53 between adjacent pairs. This provides for flow of air through the unit 50 in the manner indicated by the arrows in Fig. 5. Thus, the air and gas pass radially outwardly through the first cell then radially inwardly through the next, and so on through the entire unit.

In Fig. '7 there is shown an embodiment of my invention in conjunction with a vacuum cleaner of the upright type. The vacuum cleaner includes an upright casing'fill provided with an inlet opening 6 I. The open upper end of casing 60 is closed by the cover member 62 which supports a motor 63 for driving a fan 64. Fan 64 is provided with an outlet 65. When used as a vacuum cleaner a dust separating member is provided within casing.

60 and is preferably clamped between the upper end of the casing and cover 62, the lower part of casing 50 serving as a dust receiver. In accordment and return purified air thereto.

made up of a plurality of filter cells in the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 5. Rotation of fan 64 causes air to pass through the cells in the manner indicated by the arrows.

While the invention has been described as being used to supply purified air to a compartment from another compartment containing impure air, it is to be understood that the unit might be placed within a compartment containing contaminated air so as to withdraw such air from the compart- In this manner, the concentration of poisonous and obnoxious gases in the room may be maintained below a value which would be dangerous to health.

The reason for using difierent filter material in different cells is that there is not known at present any universal substance which at the same time may serve as a mechanically acting filter adapted tov remove particles present in the gas, and as a material for adsorbing or neutralizing different gases which may be present. Due to this fact it-is necessary to use two or more substances, for instance wadding or other vegetable or animal fibres and active carbon or some suitable chemicals.

While several more or less specific embodiments of my invention have been described, it is understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only, and do not constitute a limitation of the scope of the invention which is to be determined by the appended claims viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:-

l. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having a casing formed with an'open end and providing a dust bag space, and means for producing flow of air through said casing, of an air purifier including a pair of containers having perforated walls, one of said containers being disposed within said space and the other container being disposed outside said casing, a filter mass within each container, a flange extending outwardly from each container, a case surrounding said outer container, and formed with a conduit connection, an outwardly extending flange on said case, and means for clamping all of said flanges together and to the open end of said casing so that all of the air flowing through said casing is forced to flow through said conduit connection and through said containers.

' 2. The combination with a vacuum cleaner hav ing a casing formed with an open end and providing a. dust bag space, and means for producing flow of air through said casing, of a pair of air purifier units, each of said units including cylindrical spaced perforated inner and outer walls, an annular end wall extending from said inner wall to beyond said outer wall to form a radial flange, a circular solid end wall and a filter mass in the annular space enclosed by said walls, means for securing said flanges together and in air-tight relation to the open end of said casing with oneof said units disposed within said dust bag space and the other extending outside said casing, a case secured to said casing and surrounding the other of said units, and meansfor attaching a conduit to said case.

3. In an air purifier for use in connection with a vacuum cleaner, an outer cylindrical imperforate case formed with an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other, an outer perforated cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said case to form an annular fluid channel therebetween, an inner perforated wall spaced from said outer wall to form an annular filter chamber,

said inner perforated wall forming a cylindrical fluid channel, a plurality of transverse partitions dividing said chamber into a plurality of filtercells, alternate partitions extending to said case to divide said annular fluid channel into a plurality of sections and being formed with central openings registering with said cylindrical fluid channel, the intermediate partitions having solid centers to divide said cylindrical fluid channel into a plurality of sections and terminating at said outer perforated wall whereby fluid is caused to flow alternately radially outwardly and inwardly through adjacent filter cells, and a filter mass in each cell.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in whichadjacent filter cells contain filter masses of dif- Ierent kinds.

5. In an air purifier, means forming an outer cylindrical impertorate casing having an inlet opening at one end and an outlet opening at the other, means for producing flow of fluid through said casing, an outer perforated cylindrical wall spaced inwardly from said casing to form an annular fluid channel therebetween, an inner perforated wall spaced from said outer wall to form an annular filter chamber, said inner perforated wall forming a cylindrical fluid channel, a plurality of transverse partitions defining with said walls a plurality of filter cells within said chamber, at least one of said partitions beingformed with a central opening registering with said cylindrical fluid channel and cooperating with said casing to divide said annular fluid channel into a plurality of sections, adjacent partitions on either side thereof terminating at said outer perforated wall and having solid centers blocking flow straight through said cylindrical fluid chan nel whereby fluid is caused to flow alternately radially inwardly and outwardly through the adjacent filter cells, and a filter mass in each cell.

JOSEF FRIEDRICH HEUBERGER. 

